Tree peony Is a deciduous shrub that gradually grows up to 1.5 meters. Its shoots do not die off every fall, so the plant needs proper care.

The peony blooms every year more and more abundantly. The shrub tolerates frost well, it is successfully grown throughout Russia.

How to properly plant a tree peony on the site

The best time to plant a tree peony is the first half of autumn. Somewhere from August 15 to the end of September, seedlings are planted in a place prepared in advance.

To grow tree peony, choose a sunny area that is in an open area. Abundant flowering can only be achieved under such conditions. In the shade, the bush becomes less beautiful.

The soil for the tree peony is loamy, enriched with humus and compost. It is better to dilute clay soil with sand. The life span of the shrub directly depends on the condition of the land. A peony is grown in one place for a long time. Perennials are rarely transplanted.

The planting of a tree peony is carried out in places with a low occurrence of groundwater. The root system does not tolerate stagnant moisture well, therefore landing pit well drained with improvised material to a height of 30 cm. During planting, pay attention to the root collar of the plant, it should be level with the soil.

Treelike peony - a spreading plant, between the seedlings leave enough space for development, but not less than 1.5 m.

Most often, perennials are planted by cuttings, since seed reproduction is quite difficult. For the emergence of seedlings, the seeds are subjected to stratification, but this does not guarantee success. In addition, such a plant will bloom only after 6 years.

Tree peony care: watering and feeding

Caring for the plant is not particularly difficult. All herbaceous crops need regular watering, feeding and weeding.

Water the peony twice a month, but abundantly, pouring about 10 liters under each bush. If the summer is hot, then the bush is watered more often. At the end of August, watering is reduced to prepare the plant for winter.

After each watering, be sure to carry out loosening the soil to oxygenate the roots. It is not necessary to loosen the soil too deep, otherwise there is a risk of damage to the root system. It is best to mulch the soil after watering, which will not only help retain moisture, but also preserve its structure. Organic material is used as mulch, nice results gives mulching with humus.

The tree peony is very picky about feeding. For full flowering, it needs a lot of potassium and nitrogen. The peony is fed according to the following scheme:

At the beginning of the growing season, nitrogen is introduced;

Potassium and phosphorus are used during budding and flowering;

After flowering, nitrogen is added again.

Using such a scheme, remember that it is better to underfeed a perennial than overfeed. Excess nitrogen not only provokes abundant growth of greenery, reduces winter hardiness, but also contributes to the development of various diseases.

How to properly prune and transplant a tree peony

Pruning of a tree peony according to all the rules is carried out in the spring. The flowering of a perennial depends on whether it is done correctly.

During pruning, all old branches are cut out, and last year's are shortened by 10 cm. Old bushes are pruned at a level with the soil to awaken the adventitious buds, thus, the plant rejuvenates.

Correct pruning of a peony is the key to lush flowering in subsequent years.

A perennial very poorly tolerates a transplant, especially with age. Strong and healthy plants may die after transplanting. If a transplant is necessary, then try to carry it out carefully, without injuring the root system. Dig out a bush with a lump of earth, then rinse well under water and examine the roots. Remove all diseased and broken roots, slightly shorten the rest. Process the sections with a solution of potassium permanganate and sprinkle with crushed coal.

Reproduction of tree peonies

The tree peony is propagated in several ways:

By cuttings;

By dividing the bush;

Layers;

Vaccination.

By dividing the bush, adult peonies over 5-6 years of age are propagated. Moreover, it is better to do this at the end of August, planting delenki immediately to a permanent place.

Semi-lignified shoots are propagated by cuttings.

They are cut off with a heel, the leaves are shortened and the planting material is placed under a jar in a greenhouse.

It is most successful to carry out cuttings at the end of June.

Planting depth of cuttings is 1.5 cm.

In the fall, the cuttings are planted in a greenhouse, where they hibernate. With the arrival of spring, the seedlings are transferred to a permanent place in the garden.

Photo of a tree peony cuttings, ready for planting

Reproduction by layering takes two years. In the spring, the shoot is cut and pinned to the ground, covered with a layer of soil 8-10 cm.

The soil is well moistened throughout the season. By September, the cuttings should give roots, after which it is dug up and planted in a permanent place.

The most reliable and common way of breeding a perennial is grafting. At home, grafting is carried out on the roots of the plant.

In August, cuttings are harvested, the lower part of which is sharpened under a wedge and inserted into an incision at the root.

The vaccination site is tightly tied. A tree-like peony is grown for two years.

Problems when growing a tree peony

The shrub is resistant to diseases and pests, but weakened plants are susceptible to gray rot. Rotten shoots are removed, and the plant is sprayed with a solution copper sulfate or potassium permanganate.

If the peony is infected with boron spot, then the bush is sprayed with Bordeaux liquid. Infected shoots, leaves are removed and burned.

How to prepare a tree peony for winter

After flowering, the shoots are shortened to the axillary bud. If this is not done, then the plant weakens. In late autumn, the bush is fertilized with ash, which is brought under each bush and added dropwise.

Tree peony is a winter-hardy plant, but experienced gardeners it is advised to cover it up for the winter. Colds are not terrible for shrubs, but temperature drops and an early thaw can destroy exposed growth buds.

In late autumn, peony shoots are tied with twine, the root zone is mulched with peat. As soon as the weather settles, the bush is covered with spruce branches, dry foliage or covering material. In such conditions, the wintering of the plant will go well.

As you can see, caring for a tree peony is simple, no complicated procedures are required. It is enough to water and feed the plant on time. When planting a tree peony, immediately choose a suitable place for it so as not to injure the plant with frequent transplants. By adhering to these simple recommendations, caring for the bush will bring only positive emotions. Be sure to plant a tree peony in your garden to enjoy its bloom every spring.

Tree peony

In China, where the tree peony comes from, this plant is loved and revered. A special role in its distribution fell to the lot of Buddhist monks who traveled around the country and brought varieties from remote areas to their monasteries.

Growing tree-like peonies takes longer than the more usual herbal ones. But the effort and time is worth it, because a properly planted bush can grow in one place for several tens, or even hundreds of years.

Large fragrant flowers form on luxurious peony bushes

When choosing a landing site, rely on the following criteria:

• No draft. A tree-like peony does not tolerate well when its leaves (and even more so - flowers) flutter the wind.
• Moderate shading.
• No weeds.

Peony "Natalie" with double flowers

Advice! Choose a location away from buildings, trees, and other bushes. A tree peony requires a lot of space. In addition, keep in mind that a bush can live for about a hundred years, which means that the territory allotted for it will not be vacated for a long time.

Sapling requirements

Tree peony seedlings should have 2-3 stiff shoots, 20-25 cm high. Pay attention to the root system: there should be no damage or thinning.
When buying a scion, find out the variety. Check if it copes well with frost. Ask about the color of the petals.

Landing

Some people buy a tree peony in the spring. However, planting is best done in autumn (late August - early September).

Advice! A seedling purchased in the spring can be planted in a pot in order to transfer the plant along with an earthen lump into the ground in the fall.

First of all, you need to dig a large (70 × 70 cm) hole. The further course of action is as follows:

• Cover the bottom of the pit with drainage (sand, gravel, crushed stone), since the peony does not tolerate stagnant water at the roots.
• Mix half of the dug soil with superphosphate, dolomite flour and potassium sulfate (one glass at a time) and fill the pit with this mixture to the middle. Tamp.
• Add 2 buckets of compost to the remaining soil. Pour into the hole so that there is room for the seedling.
• Install the scion. The root collar should be in line with the soil.
• Water the soil around the seedling, fill the hole completely.
• The landing site is covered with humus. Sawdust and needles are not applicable here, they can provoke diseases of the bush.

Reproduction

Reproduction of a tree peony is carried out in several ways:

Division of the bush. This becomes possible when the plant is already 5-6 years old. The bush is dug up, the roots are washed and divided. Each part must have at least three shoots. Damaged roots are smeared with potassium permanganate and sprinkled with charcoal.

Layering. One of the lower shoots before flowering (in May) is cut, tilted and covered with earth. In autumn, the rooted shoot is separated and planted.

Air layering. The incised shoot is not sprinkled with earth, but wrapped with moss and film. This option is ineffective.

Cuttings. Carried out in mid-July. Choose a stiff, half-bud shoot. A stalk of a tree peony is cut obliquely under the kidney, treated with a growth agent. Cuttings are planted in a mixture of peat and river sand at an angle so that the bud is completely immersed in the ground. Drawers are covered with plastic wrap or covered glass constantly maintaining soil moisture.

Graft. Produced in mid-August. A root (10-15 cm) is taken, a wedge-shaped cut is made on its lower part, into which the scion is inserted. The joint is wrapped with tape and watered with garden varnish. Before planting in the ground, they are placed in a greenhouse for three weeks. For lateral grafting, the rootstock and the scion are cut diagonally, combined, wrapped and also smeared with pitch.

Seeds. The tree-like peony is derived from seeds only by breeders.

Care

Caring for a tree peony is not difficult, especially if the place for the bush was chosen correctly (moderate light, no draft, alkaline, loose soil without stagnant water). It includes a number of aspects:

• Peony is rarely watered. 1-2 times 6-7 liters in June and July. Watering is not performed in August.
• In the spring, you need to remove the mulch, loosen the earth, remove the weeds. Mineral fertilizers should be applied as soon as the snow melts (Kemira will do). Before budding and after flowering, it is useful to feed the peony with phosphorus and potash fertilizers... These solutions are best applied during watering. Ash has a good effect on the plant.

Terry peony "Smile"

• Pruning is carried out in the spring. Healthy branches are cut to the first living bud, weakened ones - by about 15 cm.
• After flowering, not only cut the bud, but also shorten the branch by 2 buds.
• For the winter, the branches of the peony are tied up, the roots are covered with spruce branches, and the bush itself is covered with a bag.
• In high humidity and shade, the peony may undergo gray rot. To avoid this, follow the planting rules. If the disease still affects the plant, it is recommended to spray the bush with a solution of potassium manganese. To prepare it, you need 3 g per 10 liters of water. You can also use a 0-6% solution of copper sulfate.

• Fungal diseases are rare and disappear easily when sprayed with fungicides. The damaged branches are, of course, pruned.
• The main enemy of the tree bush is mice.

Advice! If there are rodents in the area, line the planting hole with a net to protect the roots of the plant.

This plant can transform your private plot, giving him the atmosphere of a sophisticated, mysterious and magical China.

Tree peony - video

You need to be a skillful, and most importantly, a patient florist. But the work and the long wait are worth it. The peony in China, which is considered its homeland, is called the imperial flower. At the time of flowering, it is truly luxurious and sophisticated. There are two main types of peonies - herbaceous and tree-like. In the herbaceous, aboveground part dies off in the fall, the tree-like one is perennial shrub... Moreover, it is truly perennial, since in one place it can grow for more than 20 years. The plant tolerates transplantation very painfully, so the tree-like plant begins with the choice of a place.

Choosing a place for a peony

The place should be somewhat shaded, not open to winds. At the time of flowering, when the bush is strewn with lush heavy caps, there is a danger that the wind can break the branches.

Loamy, well-drained soil is suitable for planting, but its qualities are not particularly important, since the tree peony is always planted in a prepared hole. An excess of moisture and high groundwater are destructive for a plant, so sometimes peonies are planted on earthen terraces.

Planting pit preparation

A planting pit for a young plant should provide it nutrients for many years to come. Of course, tree-like and care for which is constant, always provided on time with top dressing and fertilizers, but at the very beginning of a flower's life, in a new place, this is especially important.

The pit is prepared 3 weeks before planting. The distance between the bushes should be at least one and a half meters. A square with a side of 80 cm is planned for each bush, the soil is dug to a depth of at least 70 cm.It turns out almost a cube, on the bottom of which a twenty-centimeter drainage is poured (fine gravel, sand), on top - rotted manure. The soil is prepared separately: equal parts of clean soil, humus, peat. Ash and superphosphate are added to this mixture.

The choice of planting material

It is important to choose the right tree peony, planting and caring for which, to a large extent, will be determined by the quality of the young plant. The seedling can be self-rooted or grafted onto a herbaceous peony. Of course, a self-rooted peony is much more resistant to disease, it takes root more easily and lives longer.

For cultivation, the best specimen is a bush of no more than twenty-five centimeters, already having stiff shoots, with "sleeping" large buds on the shoots and in the axils of the branches, but the leaves may even be wilted. The length of the roots should be approximately equal to the height of the crown. It should be remembered that a large seedling is more difficult to take root in a new place.

Planting a tree peony

The mixture is mixed and not completely poured into the pit, and does not completely fill the volume. The plant is planted in a hole on the resulting mound, along which its roots are carefully straightened. Top with soil mixture so that the root collar is at the level of the pit edges. After planting, it is required to water the bush abundantly. After a while, the earth will settle and so that the root collar does not become bare, it is necessary to spud the flower.

Peony care

A tree-like peony was chosen and planted. Planting and caring for it is not difficult - loosening, feeding and watering during the growing season. The first fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is done in early spring... The second is after flowering. The plant is rarely watered, but abundantly; in August, it is no longer watered.

The main care is pruning and pre-winter preparation.

Faded buds and tops of shoots (no more than two buds) should be cut off. For the next year, this procedure will provide lush bloom... In the spring, dry shoots are removed, old ones are shortened.

The tree peony is frost-resistant, but in middle lane In Russia and in northern latitudes, it is recommended to cover them with spruce branches, crushed bark, fallen leaves for the winter. Sometimes it is enough to cover the bush cardboard box.

There are peonies in China that are 500 years old. They are the pride of Chinese flower growers. But in our gardens, a tree-like peony, planting and caring for which is carried out according to all the rules, can live just as long.

The tree peony is a species of hybrid plants of the Peony family. Currently, Chinese breeders have bred almost 500 species of this plant. In Japan, the tree peony began to grow during the Tang Dynasty. In the 18th century, the plants were brought to Europe, where they were enthusiastically received by professional flower growers and amateurs. What care does this plant require, how to cover a tree-like peony for the winter, can it survive frost? Let's try to answer these questions that are often asked by novice growers.

The arboreal peony is a deciduous shrub that reaches no more than two meters in height. Stems are thick, light brown. They do not die off in the fall, but only grow, the plant gradually acquires a hemispherical shape. The leaves are openwork, ornamental. The flowers are large, up to 18-19 cm in diameter. There are semi-double, double and simple. Any color: peonies are crimson, purple, yellow, pink or two colors. The older the bush, the more flowers bloom. The tree-like peony blooms for two to three weeks. Almost all species are cold-tolerant; shelter for the winter is not required in most regions.

Planting tree peonies

Consider how planting and care in the open field for a peony is carried out. Planting is carried out in August-September. It is necessary to choose a sunny site for planting. There should be no tall trees nearby so that no shadow falls on the peonies. You can plant peony bushes in the form of a hedge.

Loamy soil is best suited, if the soil is sandy on the site, you need to add peat, clay or humus to it. Clay soil is fertilized organic fertilizers and sand. The place must be taken care of carefully, since in one place a peony can be grown for 80-100 years.

Dig a conical hole about 70 cm deep and the same diameter. A 30-centimeter layer of sand and broken brick is poured onto the bottom. At acidic soil bone meal or lime is added, then the soil is poured, the plant is placed and a lot of water is poured so that the roots of the tree peony are straightened in it. As soon as the water is absorbed, the pit is filled up. It is necessary to plant bushes of tree-like peonies, retreating two meters from each other.

Growing peonies from seeds

You can plant a tree-like peony with seeds, then the plant will be able to bloom within 5 years after planting. The main thing is to stratify. The procedure is carried out in two stages: warm, then cold. But even such manipulations do not guarantee that the plant will grow, since peonies need careful care.

Tree peony care

Treelike peonies can be treated like herbaceous peonies. After watering, the soil is loosened, weeds are removed. Outdoor care requires pouring a 7-liter bucket of water twice a month under each bush. If the summer is hot, you need to increase the amount of water. Watering stops in August. Loosening should be shallow, at the same time weeds are removed, the soil is mulched around the bush with humus.

Top dressing

Tree peonies need a lot of nitrogen and potassium. At the beginning of the growing season, nitrogen fertilization is required, when buds begin to form, phosphorus and potassium are added, nitrogen is added to these substances when flowering begins. You need to be careful when applying fertilizers. It is better to add less nitrogen than to allow an excess. Excess nitrogen can lead to gray mold. To prevent the roots from burning, it is necessary to thoroughly water the plant before feeding.

Pruning peonies

Pruning of tree peonies is mandatory, but in the spring, before the beginning of the growing season. Then dried shoots are removed. Anti-aging pruning is done every twenty years. In this case, the shoots are cut completely to the soil surface. It is necessary to cut to the upper axillary point, so the bush will bloom more abundantly.

Transplant of tree peonies

The tree peony is very difficult to transfer. Sometimes, after transplanting, the peony bush is sick for several years, withers and cannot recover. To reduce the risk of disease, when transplanting, you need to carefully remove the roots along with a clod of earth, rinse them with a stream of water. Sick and too long roots are removed, the sections must be treated with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate, sprinkled with coal.

Reproduction of peonies

For reproduction, you can divide the bushes into divisions, stretching them at the root collar. Slices need to be processed. Each cut must be immersed in a clay mash before planting. Only five to six year old bushes can be propagated. The division is carried out in August.

Reproduction is possible by cuttings. They are cut in the second half of June. Kidney with leaf blade and part of the wood is separated. The leaf is cut in half, the cuttings are stuck in a mixture of peat and sand. First, cover with glass or foil, then watered and sprayed. You need to transplant cuttings into personal pots at the end of September. They need to be kept in a greenhouse until spring. As soon as the peonies start to grow, they can be transplanted into open ground.

Diseases and pests of the tree peony

Treelike peonies usually have no health problems. Only old bushes and those weakened by transplantation are susceptible to diseases. Gray rot is the main danger of peonies. To combat it, the plants are sprayed with a solution of potassium permanganate. Sometimes a 6-7% solution of copper sulfate is used. Rotting stems are removed and burned before processing.

Brown spot is another plant disease. Leaves that are damaged by it must be removed and burned. To prevent the disease from spreading to other bushes, you need to treat them with a 1% solution of Bordeaux liquid.

How to cover a tree peony for the winter

Many gardeners ask what to do with a peony when it has bloomed, and how to prepare planting for winter. It is necessary to cut off the faded shoots to the top point. It is necessary to feed the plant, bring bone meal under each bush and wood ash, then the soil must be carefully repaired.

Tree peonies are cold-resistant, they can easily overwinter. But it is still better to cover the tree peony for the winter. Frost is not terrible for them, but spring sudden thaws can seriously harm. In October, it is necessary to carefully tie the shoots, mulch the trunk circle with peat. As soon as the cold comes, the peony bushes need to be covered with jute bags. You can build a hut of foliage, spruce branches or a thick layer of crushed bark over each bush.

It is recommended to add a little sand to the base of adult bushes in the fall, and rotted compost on top. If the landing site is not entirely successful, you can wrap the bush with spunbond. When growing bushes in good location where there is no wind, you do not need to cover the bushes. Even if, after warming, frost hits in the spring and the buds freeze, the peony will bloom, but in a smaller volume. And on next year peony bushes will fully recover.

Pictured: one of the tallest tree peony bushes, China

About one of the legends, once in time immemorial for the right to occupy the throne in the kingdom of flowers, the peony, who considered himself no worse, fought along with the rose. Most likely, it was a tree peony, because its lovely flowers, densely covering tall bushes, can reach 25 cm in diameter! The tree peony, which is now incredibly popular among amateur gardeners, would really be proud of itself if the plants had such feelings. And not only for its amazing beauty. If you pay him a little attention, he is able to live in the garden and delight with flowers for decades! And, for example, in the Chinese city of Yancheng, tree-like peonies grow, which were planted during the reign of the Zhao Dynasty (Song Empire). And it was over a thousand years ago, in the X-XIII centuries.

Brief information about the tree peony

Despite their name, tree peonies are not trees at all. They are precisely "tree-like", that is, they differ from herbaceous plants some external signs. First of all, it is their size. Each tree-like peony can be called a Gulliver of the flower world. It is a luxurious bush with powerful woody shoots up to one and a half meters high. Very rare specimens reach a height of up to 2 meters (according to some sources, up to 2.5 meters), while the width of the bush is up to 1.7 meters. Rare varieties and hybrids give an impressive annual growth of shoots - 70 cm, but they do not grow above 2.5 meters.

In the photo: the oldest tree-like peony in China is the King peony, it is 400 years old, its height is 2m 60 cm, the diameter of the crown is 4 m

All tree-like peonies allotted by nature for decades, which are cared for with sufficient care, increase the power of their shoots. At a respectable age, they can reach a diameter of 10 cm - such are the "stems"!

The flowers of treelike peonies are of great interest. There is no person who would remain indifferent to them. They are impressive not only in size, but also in the beauty of the petals, which are white, all shades of pink, burgundy, red, purple, even blue and light green! In this case, the shape of the flowers can be double (almost like a rose), semi-double and simple.

Treelike peonies bloom, which was planted in the right place, only in the fourth - sixth year. The flowers bloom about 14 days earlier than the herbaceous peony, and stay on the bush for 2-3 weeks. In plants that are 10 years old or more, you can count up to hundreds of huge flowers on the shoots (according to other sources, up to 200 flowers). But even without them, the tree peony does not lose its charm. It attracts the eye with its powerful and, at the same time, delicate green leaves. They are generally more feathery than those of the herbaceous relative. In autumn, the stems of ordinary peonies die off, and in tree-like peonies they shed their foliage and prepare for winter dormancy.

Treelike peonies are native to China and Japan, in the mountainous regions of which they once formed lush blooming thickets. Now there are no such large-scale plantings left, but under natural conditions, single wild tree-like peonies can be admired in Southern Tibet and in some provinces of Southwestern China. They are found in bushes at an altitude of 2400 meters.

Tree peonies grown in our climate are inferior to Chinese peonies in size and flowering, but this does not make them less attractive. To have such handsome men in your garden, you need to find a suitable place for them.

Planting site for tree peonies

Planting a tree peony is not difficult, but it must be carried out in accordance with all the rules of agricultural technology.

In central Russia, even in the Moscow region, under certain conditions, it is also possible to grow tree-like peonies (they must be planted in a suitable place for them, otherwise the efforts expended will not justify themselves).

Tree peonies love warmth and hate drafts, so they need to choose a place where there is no regularly blowing winds.

The sun is necessary for them, but it should be in moderation - in full sun peonies quickly fade, the color of their petals is pale. The ideal place for planting tree peonies is where the sun is before lunch, and then from 3-4 hours in the afternoon. In this case, the most magnificent flowering is observed. Planting in full shade is undesirable, here the branches of the peony will stretch out, and the flowers may be completely absent.

Experienced flower growers advise planting tree peonies in places that are cleared of snow later than other places on the site. This will slow down the beginning of the growing season of peonies, and young shoots will not suffer from low temperatures during spring frosts. The proposed northwestern or northeastern parts of the site, illuminated for a certain part of the day by the sun. However, if the peony is sheltered from frost in the spring and not left in the summer all day in the open sun, you can plant it on the south side.

You should definitely not plant tree peonies near large trees, tall shrubs, powerful perennials, the crowns of which can oppress the peony, and their roots can damage the vulnerable root system of the tree peony. But planting in a small distance, provided that these trees and shrubs partially shade the tree-like peony, will benefit him.

V landscape compositions the tree peony can play the role of a soloist or be used in a Japanese-style garden. It can be planted, as in China, near an artificial reservoir or in rows on terraced slopes. A spectacular plant in a flowerbed or planted in groups against the backdrop of a lawn.

Soil for tree peonies

This culture is extremely demanding on the soil. Therefore, planting tree peonies should be carried out only in such soil, the pH of which is between 6 or 7. That is, if your soil is acidic on the site, they need to be limed. To do this, add eggshell powder, bone meal, chalk, ash, lime "fluff". In alkaline soil, planting tree peonies is best done after adding peat, sawdust, compost based on needles or oak leaves into it.

The best for the culture will be permeable loamy soils. Before planting treelike peonies, very dense heavy clay soils are dug up with a large amount of humus and a moderate amount of sand.

On sandy and sandy loam soils, peonies age faster and bloom worse. The situation can be corrected by introducing into the soil a large number humus. It doesn't hurt to add clay.

On peat soils, tree peonies get sick due to the high acidity of such soils. You can raise the pH of the soil by introducing organic matter, bone meal, ash, sand, humus.

Soil moisture for tree peonies

When planting tree peonies, special attention should be paid to ensuring normal soil moisture, since these plants cannot stand stagnant water and any flooding. Therefore, it is better to choose a place for them on a flat or slightly rising surface. If you plan to plant them in a hollow, you must definitely arrange for them a raised flower bed or garden bed, at least half a meter high.

In addition to the relief features of the site, it is necessary to take into account at what distance from the surface the groundwater flows. Ideally, they should not be at the level of the peony roots. But in reality, the fulfillment of such conditions is unlikely.

Typically, a water reservoir or stream can be found at any point in the site, but at different depths. If the depth of the groundwater is less than 2 meters, it is better to look for another place for the tree-like peony, because during the spring melting of snow or heavy rains, conditions for the roots of the plant are too “wet”, due to which they can get sick with gray rot.

The situation can be corrected with a drainage pillow. It should be arranged even if you are planting your peony on a hilltop. The difference lies in the thickness of the drainage layer. In a lowland and with closely lying groundwater, it should be at least 30 cm. Where it is dry for most of the year, you can get by with a drainage layer 20 cm thick. Broken brick, shards, gravel, gravel, expanded clay are suitable for its construction.

When to plant a tree peony

Despite the fact that you can buy seedlings from spring to autumn, planting tree peonies in August-September is most preferable, especially if these are plants with an open root system. This is explained by the fact that the spring is the time of flowering of the peony, for which it must prepare in the fall. Planting in spring is stressful for the plant, it disrupts its natural rhythm of development, so the peony will be sick and will not give the expected flowering.

Another danger when spring planting- the difficulty of preserving planting material, which often has to be placed in the refrigerator before the deadline. Buds that start to grow early in damp air can rot, and the plant can die. Therefore, as soon as possible, such seedlings are planted in open ground, starting in April, and covered with an agrotechnical lutrasil type to protect against frost. Alternatively, you can resort to planting a peony in a large pot, and place it on a windowsill or loggia. After landing in the garden.

How to plant a tree peony

It is better to prepare the pit in advance, in the spring or 2-3 weeks before planting, so that it has time to "ripen" by the fall. The root system of tree-like peonies is shallow, so it is not necessary to dig the earth too deep for them. As a rule, sizes 70x70x40 are sufficient, where 40 is the depth. To the indicated depth, add 20-30 cm to create a drainage cushion. The fossa is dug in a conical shape so that its upper size is twice the lower one. A bucket of good fertile soil is poured over the drainage, from 200 to 300 grams of lime, from 100 to 200 grams of superphosphate (some also add potassium sulfate), a couple of compost buckets. All this is tamped and left until the time of planting. As mineral fertilizer you can use a complex granular fertilizer mixture according to the instructions on the package.

In the fall, the bush is placed in a dug hole, after having poured a little fertile into it potting soil in the form of a small mound. The roots are carefully spread over its surface. The remaining soil is added gradually, half a bucket of water is poured. They wait for it to be absorbed. Then again the soil, and again moderate watering. Trample the soil around the seedling is not worth it. As you water, the water will gradually distribute and compact the soil around the roots. When planting, it is important not to bare the root collar, it should be flush with the soil level.

The method described above for planting tree peonies is suitable if you have seedlings with an open root system (that is, not planted in a pot or other container). Seedlings with closed roots in pots are planted in exactly the same planting hole, but a depression is made in it according to the size of the pot, and the plant is removed from the pot together with the ground, without destroying the resulting lump and without exposing the roots. You can plant peonies from pots throughout the season.

If you plan to plant peonies in a group, the distance between the seedlings must be maintained from one and a half to 2 meters.

In the photo: on the left - a tree-like peony grafted onto a herbaceous peony; on the right - own-rooted plant;
below right - a seedling with a closed root system

About seedlings

A good tree peony seedling should be no more than a quarter of a meter, have from two to four lignified shoots with visible living buds. There should be no signs of rot on the roots. By examining the roots, the future character of the plant can be determined.

Distinguish between own-rooted and grafted tree peonies. The latter are grafted onto a herbaceous peony. In such seedlings, the root is thick, it is a root tuber.

Own-rooted seedlings are more often obtained by dividing the tree peony. Their roots are elongated, multiple, and easily wounded. Depending on the type of seedling (self-rooted or grafted), the tree peony will be endowed with certain qualities.

Own-rooted tree-like peony - long-lived, stable and winter-hardy, can give rise to shoots, multiplies well by division, but actively grows and blooms only from 4-5 years after planting.

A grafted tree-like peony blooms in the first year, develops rapidly, but lives less than a self-rooted one, is not suitable for division and transplantation, but it multiplies well by layering, from it you can get a self-rooted peony yourself.

How to care for tree peonies

Like any cultivated plant, the tree peony needs care. It needs to be watered, fertilized, weeded, and in the spring, rejuvenating, shaping and sanitary pruning... During trimming:
- remove all broken, frozen and dry shoots,
- very old shoots are cut on a stump,
- thin and weak shoots are shortened, leaving 15 cm,
- strong healthy branches are cut from the top to the first living buds.

Young plants are cut off flower buds, so that the peony gives all its strength to the development of the root system. Over the years, the number of removed buds is reduced; in adult plants, they are completely preserved. Removing wilted flowers will also benefit the bush. Although the fruits formed from them are quite decorative, and seeds can ripen in them (in the Moscow region this happens in September).

Peonies are not often watered, as they easily tolerate drought. However, in extreme heat in spring and before flowering, watering is increased. One adult bush requires at least a bucket of water, taking into account the fact that watering is carried out no more than 2 times a month. You can sprinkle mulch around the bush, but not in a very thick layer, otherwise the peony will give a lot of root growth (if it is a rooted plant, not grafted). Peonies planted in the sun are watered more often, shade if possible. Watering will also be required in dry autumn.

Although these plants are frost-resistant, and even in the conditions of the Moscow region, many growers do not shelter them for the winter, it is worthwhile to play it safe and provide in winter reliable protection your pets. This is especially true for young plants. To do this, with the onset of autumn frosts, the trunk circles are mulched with fertile soil mixed with humus, or peat, or mulching agrotex. Then they cover the bush with spruce branches and / or cover it with spunbond. If possible, the bushes are additionally covered with wooden shields.

In the photo: this is how a blooming tree peony is protected from the sun, rain and wind in China.

But well overwintered peonies can be damaged by spring frosts, which are destructive for young shoots that start to grow early. In this case, he saves the shelter with the same lutrasil.

How to feed tree peonies

The correct planting of tree peonies assumes that a sufficient amount of fertilizer is laid in the pit for the first few years. During this period, the plant can not be fed. It is allowed to do foliar feeding within the first 3 years after planting the tree peony. To do this, 40 grams of complex fertilizer are diluted in a bucket of water and sprayed with this mixture on peony leaves early in the morning or in the late afternoon.

The rest of the time, tree peonies are fertilized according to the classical scheme:
1st time in the snow or immediately after it has melted (fertilizer mixtures are required containing nitrogen - a moderate amount, phosphorus, calcium),
2nd time 14-15 days before blooming flowers (potash-phosphorus fertilizers),
3 times in 14-15 days after the last flower wilting (complex fertilizer with a low nitrogen content).
Before and after fertilizing, it is imperative to water the peonies. It is impossible to feed the bushes with fresh manure, its excess causes peony diseases.

Transplant of tree peonies

Choosing a place in the garden for tree peonies, you need to plan that they will be there for their entire long life. However, our own life very often makes unforeseen adjustments. Therefore, situations may arise when it is necessary to relocate a tree-like peony that has been growing for many years to a new place.

Due to the fact that his root system superficial, it is easily removed from the ground. You need to transfer the bush without exposing the roots. For this, the roots, together with the earth, are placed in burlap and transported to a new planting site. A new pit for plants aged 10 years can be made with a size of 80x80x40. Planting is carried out at the same level of the root collar. The bushes of grafted peonies are not separated during transplantation. Adult self-rooted shrubs over 10 years old can be divided. In the first year after transplanting, the buds are removed, allowing the peony to grow stronger in a new place.

After transplanting, the bush will most likely be sore for a long time. His shoots may begin to dry. In this case, they need to be removed. This is how the bush is rejuvenated. After a while, the remaining living buds of the tree-like peony will begin to germinate and form new shoots.